Till Death Do Us Tart by Ellie Alexander is the eighth tale in A Bakeshop Mystery series. Jules Capshaw has a lot of on her plate. She is busy planning a surprise wedding for her
mother and the Professor. Everyone in
Ashland, Oregon is in on the surprise except the couple getting married. The nuptials will take place Uva, the vineyard
that Jules now owns shares in along with her estranged husband, Carlos (and the
horrible Richard Lord). Carlos will be
arriving in Ashland along with his son, Romero in two days. It is a Midsummer Night’s Dream wedding and
guests have been asked to wear Elizabethan themed attire. The renovations of Torte are still
ongoing. The downstairs will be complete
within the week and then they can begin work upstairs. As if that is not enough, Lance returns to
town and he has a problem. He believes
his brother, Leo is poisoning their father and that someone is following him. He would like to invite Leo and his entourage
to the wedding (oh no) as part of his plan.
Then Lance’s father passes away under suspicious circumstances and a wedding
guest collapses from poisoned wine. That
glass of wine, though, was meant for Jules.
Are the two cases connected? Murder,
mayhem and the makeover of Torte are on the menu in Till Death Do Us Tart.

Return to Ashland, Oregon in the
latest A Bakeshop Mystery.While Till Death Do Us Tart is the eighth book in the series, it can be read alone.The author does provide the necessary
background details for readers. Till Death Do Us Tart is nicely written and it has a fast pace.Ellie Alexander has a conversational writing
style that makes her books easy to read and enjoy.There are many cozy moments with baking,
friendship, the vineyard, touring the town and the wedding.Carlos is back in Jules life and the
attraction between them in undeniable.Jules is falling back in love with Carlos, but
she is not sure if he would be happy in Ashland. While I liked the mystery, I thought it was a
cinch to solve. I would have liked a better wrap up of the mystery at the
end.I wanted more facts and less assumption.My rating for Till Death Do Us Tart is 4 out
of 5 stars (I liked it).Many delectable
delights are mentioned in the book.They
will have your mouth watering (there are recipes at the end of the book).We are left with a small cliffhanger at the
end.Readers will have to wait for the
next A Bakeshop Mystery to discover what happens next with Jules.Till Death Do Us Tart is a light-hearted,
charming cozy mystery that will leave you smiling.

Buried in Books by Kate Carlisle
is the twelfth A Bibliophile Mystery.
Brooklyn Wainwright is marrying Derek Stone in just a few days. With the wedding plans completed, Brooklyn is
off to attend the annual National Librarians Association conference. She is surprised when she runs into Heather
Babcock. Brooklyn, Heather and Sara
Martin were roommates and best friends in graduate school until Roderick came
along. Brooklyn has not heard from Heather
or Sara in twelve years. The next day
after Brooklyn’s Book Lovers Tour of San Francisco, Brooklyn is surprised with
a bridal shower. She is shocked when she
discovers her mother invited Heather and Sara (oh dear). Heather gives Brooklyn a first edition of The
Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Not to
be one upped, Sara unexpectedly presents Brooklyn with a beautiful (and
valuable) first edition of The Three Musketeers. Later Sara turns up dead which causes
Brooklyn to take a closer look at her gift from Sara. When she discovers it is a forgery, Brooklyn
wonders if Sara knew about it or was she innocent victim. With her wedding quickly approaching,
Brooklyn finds herself once again embroiled in a mystery. Can Brooklyn wrap up the case before she dons
her wedding gown or will she end up being fitted for a coffin?

Buried in Books is a well-written
and engaging book. The authors
conversational writing style combined with the steady pacing makes Buried in Books easy to read. I started reading
Buried in Books and did not put it down until I finished. There are many delightful humorous moments in
Buried in Books. Brooklyn and Derek’s
mothers are quite a pair. They are two peas in a pod and their families had
better be prepared for more of their antics in the future. I love reading about the beautiful books
Brooklyn encounters (the authors descriptions allowed me to visualize the
wondrous tomes. It is also interesting to
learn more about bookbinding (which makes A Bibliophile Mystery series unique)
and creating one-of-a-kind handmade books. There are beautiful descriptions of
San Francisco and various book lover attractions. I enjoyed how the victim was killed. It is unique and fits with the book. The murder does not occur until page 110. The author took the time to set the stage (give
us background) for the crime. I was
disappointed that the mystery was uncomplicated and easily solved. Brooklyn is a great character. She is intelligent, spunky and has a nose for
murder. Brooklyn has grown over the
course of the series, and I think that Derek is the perfect partner for
her. He supports Brooklyn in her
investigations and assists her while keeping her safe. There are many wonderful cozy moments in the
book. We get to see the Wainwright and
Stone families mingle, the wedding, lots of food, Brooklyn spending time with her
friends, the sights of San Francisco, descriptions of old books, the
convention, the rehearsal dinner, and special moments between Derek and
Brooklyn. There are recipes for a couple
of the dishes served at Derek and Brooklyn’s wedding at the end of the book. My rating for Buried in Books is 4 out of 5
stars. Fans of A Bibliophile Mystery series (and cozy mysteries) will be thoroughly delighted with Buried in Books.

Ruff Justice by Laurien Berenson
is the twenty-second (wow) novel in The Melanie Travis Canine Mystery series. Melanie Travis along with her husband, two
sons, and Augie are at the Sedgefield dog show.
Davey is hoping to complete Augie’s, his Standard Poodle, championship after
two years. Augie does not get the win,
but Aunt Peg discovers a dead body. Aunt
Peg had ordered a special leash for Coral, her six-month-old Standard Poodle
puppy, from artist Jasmine Crane.
Jasmine was not at her booth and Aunt Peg (you know how she is) was
determined to find the leash. Instead,
Aunt Peg found Jasmine strangled behind her booth. The next day, Aunt Peg is visited by her dog
sitter’s twin sister, Abby. It seems
Amanda Burke has been missing for twenty-four hours and her sister is worried
about her. It turns out that Amanda
lived in the apartment over Jasmine Crane’s garage. It cannot be a coincidence that Amanda
disappeared after Jasmine was murdered. Abby
had heard about Aunt Peg and Melanie’s success with investigations in the past. She wants them to find her sister and, of
course, they agree. Melanie will have to
fit in questioning in between teaching, duties at home (laundry, grocery
shopping, cleaning), the kids, the various dog shows, a student who is being
bullied, taking care of the dogs, and spending time with her husband, Sam. Melanie has a busy life, but she would not
have it any other way. Melanie soon
finds herself ensnared in two perplexing mysteries.

Ruff Justice contains good
writing and established characters.
Melanie has grown over the course of the series. She has a happy home life with her two kids,
loving husband and six dogs (five Standard Poodles and Bud). Aunt Peg, though, has not changed one
iota. She is still headstrong and likes things
done her way. Davey, Kevin and the dogs (especially
Bud) provide levity. I had a good laugh
over the finger paint and tomato incidents.
Sam is the stabilizing influence
and I love that he does not discourage Melanie’s investigating. The characters are likeable and relatable. The
dog show judging is quite interesting (I did not realize how many dog breeds
there were). There are many variables as
we see in Ruff Justice as Davey and Augie work towards their goal of earning
Augie his championship title. It is obvious that the author is well versed in
the subject of dog competitions (it comes through in the book). Laurien Berenson explains dog show judging in
a way that is easy to understand. One of
Melanie’s tutoring students, Francesca is being bullied, and I like how Melanie
addresses the situation. The mystery is
well-crafted and multi-faceted. I do
wish, though, that the author had included a twist. I was able to identify the culprit early in
the story (my one complaint). Ruff Justice is not a standalone book. You
cannot just pick up Ruff Justice and dive in.
My rating for Ruff Justice is 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you
are looking for an engaging cozy mystery with great characters and a complicated
mystery, then pick up Ruff Justice.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Welcome! I am featuring debut author Elaine Roberts today. Ms. Roberts said one of the challenges with writing a historical novel is the research. She said it is easy to get lost in the events (and end up with too much material). When her research is done, she constructs a timeline of events. This will be the basis of her story. Her characters lives and what happens to them are woven around the historical events. Foyles is a real bookstore chain located in the United Kingdom. There is a store on Charring Cross Road in London.

The Foyles Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts is the first story in The Foyles Girls series. Alice Taylor works at W & G Foyles
Bookstore on Charring Cross Road in London with her friends Victoria Appleton and
Molly Cooper. Victoria is responsible
for her two younger siblings since their parents died four and a half years
earlier. Molly is in love with Tony Fletcher
who likes to flirt with every woman he encounters. Alice comes from a well-to-do family and her
father, Luke has very rigid ideas for women which makes life difficult for
Lily, Alice’s spirited sister. Alice
loves her job at Foyles and spending time with her beau, Freddie who is a
police sergeant. Then England declares
war against Germany and the men rush to enlist including Freddie. Before Freddie departs for training camp, he
proposes to Alice. The wedding will have
to wait until he gets leave. As the war
continues on, Alice, Victoria and Molly want to find a way to help the war
effort at home. Alice learns to drive an
ambulance and transfers passengers from the train station to the hospital. She likes to keep herself busy to avoid
thinking about the danger those she loves are in. Will Freddie make it home from the war? Are her brothers safe? Will the war ever end? Venture back to 1914 in The Foyles Bookshop Girls.

The Foyles Bookshop Girls takes
readers back to 1914 when World War I begins.
We see how quickly life can change.
The story focuses on Alice but includes her family and friends. Alice comes from a more affluent household
than her friends. The author did a wonderful
job at setting the stage for the book. Elaine
Roberts descriptions brought the book
alive for me. I could envision the
characters, their homes, and Foyles Bookshop. Alice is a spirited, strong intelligent woman.
She was the anchor for her group of friends.
I like how the characters developed over the course of the story and the
friendship between the ladies deepened.
Alice matured and developed new insights and a stronger voice. I just loved the accounts of Foyles
Bookshop. It sounded like a magical place
with all the wonderful books. When Alice
mentioned the smell of the books, I completely agreed and understood. It was interesting how the bookshop operated
(how people purchased their books, how the payment system operated). I would have liked more about the Foyles
Bookshop. It was not central to the
story. I wanted to know more about
Victoria and Molly. I am hoping that
they will be featured more prominently in the next two books in the
series. The Foyles Bookshop Girls contains
good writing and it is gently paced. Elaine
Roberts is off to a promising start with her debut novel of The Foyles Bookshop Girls. I have included an extract for your enjoyment:

Alice sighed with
relief. Foyles Bookstore frontage was unmissable. The message was clear. They
were the largest booksellers in London, with six floors. If a novel was
purchased and returned after it was read, there would be a refund of two thirds
of the price for each book. They had created quite a name since William and
Gilbert Foyle started selling their own unwanted books in 1903. Everyone who
started working there was told about their vision of having a bookshop for the
people.

She paused for a moment to take a
couple of deep breaths, hoping to lessen the heat on her face, catching sight
of her reflection in a shop window. Her slender figure was slightly distorted
by the glass as she patted down the wide, black-edged lapels of her white
blouse. Her hand automatically ran down the small black buttons, twisting each
one in turn. She took a deep breath, patted her pinned up hair and stepped
towards the open doorway of the shop. The shutters were being lifted and
bookstands were being placed by the entrance and to the side of the store.
Customers of all ages were already gathering.

‘Morning, Miss Taylor.’ A slim man
towered above her. ‘You only just made it on time.’ He frowned. Her heart pummelled in her chest.
She looked up at his stern expression. His grey hair was greased back. ‘Sorry,
sir, I foolishly went to St Thomas' before I came to work.’ Colour flushed her
cheeks; Mr Leadbetter was a stickler for timekeeping. ‘Oh.’ His face softened. ‘Nothing
wrong I trust?’

‘No, sir, I’ve so many books
indoors, I wanted to give some to the hospital…’ Alice's voice faded to a
mumble. ‘For the patients.’

Mr Leadbetter raised his eyebrows.
His hands linked behind his back, making his dark grey jacket gape revealing
more of his blue tie and lily-white shirt. ‘Very commendable.’ He paused for a
moment. ‘You do know we sell second-hand books as well as new ones, don't you?’ The corners of Alice's lips lifted
slightly. ‘Of course, sir, I’ve worked here for a few years now. I just thought
it would be a good thing to do, but I should have waited until my day off.’ Mr Leadbetter nodded and stepped
aside for Alice to walk through the store to the staff room. Having removed her
hat and left it with her shopping bag, she stood in front of a large white clock
face with its wooden surround and pulled her clocking-in card from the
individual slots next to it. She dropped it into a hole in front of the clock
and pulled it out again. Alice looked down at the time stamp, realising she had
only just made it on time. Quickly placing it back, she hurried into the shop.

Foyles had an air of a library about
it as men, women and children lifted books from the shelves to look at the
covers and read the first few pages. People whispered to each other, some
louder than others, as their excitement grew. The bookshop had become a popular
meeting place. There were shelves upon shelves of old and new books, priced
from tuppence upwards. She took a deep breath, never tiring of the smell that
came from them. She smiled, remembering how Mr Leadbetter had caught her with
her nose in a book, her eyes shut, savouring the smell. He hadn't questioned
her; he understood and they spent ten minutes trying to work out how to
describe it. Was it woody? But then there was a trace of something else; maybe
it was the ink or dust. If the previous reader had been a smoker, then that
also clung to the pages. No one in the store thought it was odd; they were book
lovers, after all.

Deserts, Driving and Derelicts by Tonya Kappes is the second A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery.Mae West has settled into her new life living
in her RV in the Happy Trails Campground in Normal, Kentucky.Business is booming at the campground and
tourists are enjoying the shops in town.The article on Happy Trails in National Parks of America Magazine was a
real boon.Mae is surprised when an old
friend appears one day.Bobby Ray Bond
was in the same foster home as Mae and he gave her the money to move to New
York and enroll in flight attendant school.It seems it Mae’s turn to help Bobby Ray.Mae is assisting Betts Hager with her
cleaning business and must clean persnickety Tammy Jo Bentley’s home.The next day she stops by for a check and
finds Camille Braun, Tammy Jo’s dog nanny, with a knife sticking out of her
chest.Mae is once again in the middle
of a murder investigation plus the reluctant dog sitter to Tammy Jo’s high maintenance
pooch.One thing you can count on in Normal,
Kentucky—life is never normal.Join in
on the fun in Deserts, Driving and Derelicts.

Deserts, Driving and Derelicts is
an amusing cozy mystery. The series
contains fun, quirky characters that are not over-the-top (thank heavens). They live in the charming small Southern town
of Normal, Kentucky. I love the
descriptions of the town. It is a
welcoming place with quaint shops (I want to live in Normal). The author has a conversational writing style
that draws the reader in and holds their attention. The story has a steady pace and I quickly
finished the book. The mystery was
interesting with several suspects. There
is a twist that some readers may not expect at the end (depends upon your sleuthing
skills). I am curious to see what happens
with Bobby Ray. He doesn’t appear to be
ready to move on (I wish Mae good luck at getting him out of the RV he is residing
in). My rating for Deserts, Driving and Derelicts is 4 out of 5 stars. I would
have preferred a more complicated mystery and I felt the story was a little
short (154 pages). I like how Mae fixed
up her RV. For very little money, she
really updated the place and made it homey (it sounds so cute). Deserts, Driving and Derelicts can be read
alone. It was clever how the author
handled the synopsis of the first book in the series. Deserts, Driving and Derelicts is the perfect
book to read while sitting beside the pool on a lazy summer day. Be prepared for people to stare at you,
though, when you start chuckling out loud.

Monday, June 25, 2018

An Amish Family by Kathleen Fuller is An Amish Novella Collection.Building Trust is the story of Grace Miller and Joel King.They have been dating secretly for almost a
year and Joel has proposed.They make
the announcement at a family dinner and are shocked when Grace’s father, Vernon
forbids the union.When Vernon is asked
why, he will not reveal his reasons and banishes Joel from his property.Grace needs to find out what her father has against
Joel, so they can move forward with their future.

Surprised by Love has Emily
Schwartz in a pickle when she tells people she is dating Rueben Coblentz.She is trying to avoid the latest efforts of
her match-making mother.Rueben can see
Emily’s distress and agrees to help her out.What happens, though, when friendship turns into love?

A Gift for Anne Marie is set in
Paradise, Pennsylvania.Anne Marie
Smucker and Nathaniel have been friends since they were little kids.When Anne Marie’s friend, Ruth states she is
interested in Nathaniel, it surprises Anne Marie that she feels jealous.Anne Marie looks at Nathaniel in a new light
and realizes her feelings for him have changed.But then her mother announces she is getting married and the family is
moving to Ohio.Is her budding
relationship with Nathaniel over before it can begin?

A Heart Full of Love keeps us in
Paradise, Pennsylvania where Ellie and Chris Miller are expecting their first child.Ellie’s mother has been protective of Ellie
since she lost her sight in accident eight years prior.Since Ellie announced her pregnancy, her
mother has become even more protective.When Ellie gives birth to twins, her mother moves in and takes control
of the babies.When it becomes
unbearable for Ellie, Chris is forced to act.Will Ellie’s mother finally tell them the reason for her behavior?

The four stories in An Amish Family are well-written, thoughtful, and engaging.I thought each story was just the right
length.There are good life lessons
included in each novella.It is always
important to remember that God is in control.As Christians we need to be faithful to Him and pray for his guidance
and assistance.A Heart Full of Love (in
An Amish Cradle) and A Gift for Anne Marie (in An Amish Second Christmas and in An Amish Hope) are
not new stories, but I liked revisiting these narratives. Each novella can be purchased separately or in one volume. An Amish Family are lovely, heartfelt tales
that are enjoyable to read. I dare you
to read just one!

A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden is the second novel in An Empire State Novel series.It is June 1908 in Jersey City, New Jersey
when Dr. John Lael and Dr. Rosalind Werner, a biochemist, get the verdict on a two-year
court case for which they were consultants.They have ninety days to prove their case that chlorine can prevent
waterborne diseases in the water supply.It is a controversial idea and people are against a toxic chemical being
added to their drinking water.How can
they prove chlorine will not harm people?Nicholas Drake spoke for the opposition in court and is up for the position
of Commissioner of State Water Board of New York.Dr. Lael suggests they meet with Nicholas
Drake and try to bring him over to their side.Nicholas is instantly attracted to Rosalind, but she cannot change his
mind about the chlorine argument.Nicholas
is hoping that after the legal case is closed, he can court Rosalind and make
her his wife.Rosalind enjoys spending
time with Nicholas, but she is afraid of what will happen when her secrets come
to light.But when Nicholas uncovers the
duplicity, he sets out to wage a war in the court of public opinion.In the midst of this turmoil, an unknown
enemy has set their sights on Rosalind and intends to destroy her.Who is behind this maliciousness?

A Daring Venture may be the
second novel in An Empire State Novel series, but it can be read alone. The author provides the necessary background
on Nicholas Drake (his sister, Lucy was featured in A Dangerous Legacy). I thought A Daring Venture was well-written
and had charming main characters.
Nicholas Drake is a handsome, down to earth man who can be exasperating. Rosalind is an intelligent woman who wants to
help prevent disease. She is naïve,
though, in the ways of the world (men) and cannot explain science in a way that
normal people can understand. The characters are realistic with good traits
and flaws (like Nicholas’ impulsiveness and quick temper). I found the premise fascinating. We take for granted that we have safe
drinking water, but rarely think about how it came about. It was obvious the author did her research
for the book and she managed to explain the process in a way that lay people
can understand. The story is based on
real life events which the author explains at the end of the book. I thought that the era was captured with the
descriptions of the clothing, buildings, and attitudes. I laughed at Rosalind’s fear of using the new
fangled subway. The romance was not over-the-top, nor did it
dominate the story. The battle over the
water and the mystery of the unknown enemy are intertwined with the romance
between Nicholas and Rosalind. I
especially enjoyed the humorous moments and lines (added levity). I liked that the author included Lucy and Colin
in the story. We get to find out what is
happening in their lives. I am giving A Daring Venture 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I was not
thrilled with Rosalind’s sister-in-law, Ingrid.
I did not like her poor attitude or how she treated Rosalind. The faith element was very light in A Daring Venture which is unusual for this author.
Elizabeth Camden sets the stage for A Desperate Hope (2019) which will
provide us with Eloise Drake’s story. A Daring Venture is an engaging, multi-faceted story.

Death and a Pot of Chowder by Cornelia Kidd (aka Lea Wait) is the first A Maine Murder Mystery. Anna Winslow lives on Quarry Island in Maine
with her husband, Burt and son, Jake.
She is surprised when she receives a letter from Isabel “Izzie” Jordan stating
that she is her half-sister and would like to meet. A couple of weeks later, Anna is in Portland
to meet up with Izzie. They arrive at
their lunch destination when Anna gets a call from Burt regarding his brother,
Carl. Carl’s boat was found adrift and
he is missing. Anna and Izzie rush to
Quarry Island where the search is ongoing.
Later that night, Carl’s body is discovered, but he did not die from
drowning. Detective Jonas Preston of the
Maine State Police is on the case and they soon learn that the evidence is
mounting against Burt. Anna and Izzie
band together to track down Carl’s killer.

Death and a Pot of Chowder is set
on Quarry Island, Maine. The author provided detailed descriptions of the
island and its history. Anna is
thirty-two and has been married to Burt since she was eighteen years old. Burt is a fourth-generation lobsterman and
expects his son to follow in his footsteps.
Anna grew up on the same street.
Her mother and grandmother still live in the house (close knit
family). It is a place where people can
leave their doors unlocked and children can roam freely (until someone murdered
Carl). The author did a terrific job at
setting the stage for A Maine Murder Mystery series. I like how the author brought the two sisters
together and their plans for the future.
I loved how Anne of Green Gables was woven into the story (one of my
favorite books). I thought the mystery
was simple. I easily identified the guilty
party. Anna and Izzie work together to
figure out Carl’s movement before he was killed. They question various people and get
assistance from retired detective and neighbor, Rob Erickson. I could have done with less speculation and
repetition. There needed to be more
action which would have helped the pacing (which was slow at times). My rating for Death and a Pot of Chowder is
3.5 out of 5 stars. I found Jake to be extremely
annoying. I realize his attitude and
behavior are realistic for a fourteen-year-old, but I did get tired of his
yelling and door slamming. Izzie’s love
of cooking comes through as she describes how she likes to create dishes and execute
them. There are various cookbooks
mentioned and there are recipes included at the end of the book. There are many engaging cozy moments as the
two sisters bond, explore the island, cook, and plan for the future. Death and a Pot of Chowder is nicely written,
has good characters, rustic setting and plenty of food. Death and a Pot of Chowder captured my
interest and I will be picking up the next A Maine Murder Mystery.

No Grater Danger by Victoria Hamilton is the seventh story in A Vintage Kitchen Mystery series. Jaymie Leighton Muller is enjoying her new
life married to Jakob and taking care of her stepdaughter, Jocie. Sybil Thorndike, Jocie’s school principal,
asks Jaymie to assist in a new program that involves teaching through
objects. They want to use objects from
the heritage house for an upcoming spice trade lesson. Mrs. Stubbs suggests Jaymie talk with her
cousin, Lois Perry who owns a large collection of nutmeg graters along with
other historical objects. Lois Perry is
a reclusive woman who lives in the Nutmeg Palace and owns the waterfront
property in town. Fergus Baird, a
developer, has been badgering Lois to sell off the property. When Jaymie arrives for a meeting with Lois,
she finds her at the bottom of the back stairs. Someone set it up for Lois to
fall and this was not the first time an attempt has been made on her life. Jaymie sets out to find the person behind
these dastardly deeds because the next attempt on Lois’ life could be
successful.

No Grater Danger contains good
writing, a steady pace and smooth transitions.
There is a great cast of established characters and I like the addition
of Lois Perry (feisty and intelligent woman).
I have liked watching Jaymie grow over the course of the series, and I
am glad that she has found the right partner for her in Jakob Muller. Queensville, Michigan is a lovely town with
quaint shops and I appreciate how they want to preserve their history. There are beautiful descriptions of vintage
items in the book including the Savoy by Buccellati Sterling Silver set, various
nutmeg graters, and Pyrex. The mystery
is well-crafted with a twist that will surprise you. There are red herrings and multiple
suspects. Jaymie actively questions
suspects and seeks clues to aid her investigation. Armchair sleuths will be able to discern the guilty
parties’ identity early in the story. However,
it did not hinder my enjoyment of the book.
I wanted to keep reading to discover the why and spend more time in
Queensville. There are many appealing
cozy moments in the story with Jaymie and her new family (hubby and
stepdaughter), time with friends, cooking and eating, shopping, and wonderful
descriptions of vintage items. I am
giving No Grater Danger 4 out of 5 stars. I could
have done with less repetition of facts and speculation. I will be eagerly awaiting the next
installment in A Vintage Kitchen Mystery series. Victoria Hamilton also writes A Merry Muffin Mystery series.

The Love Letter is the latest
novel by Rachel Hauck. Chloe Daschle is
auditioning for a role that could change her career. She has become stereotyped into roles where
she dies, and it is time to change her fate.
She gets the role of Esther Longfellow in Bound by Love written by Jesse
Gates. The other thing Chloe longs for
is her one true love. After several
disastrous romances, she wonders if the right man is out there for her. Then Chloe meets screenwriter and actor,
Jesse Gates at a friend’s wedding. Based
on a letter from an ancestor, Jesse wrote Bound by Love. When Jesse meets Chloe, he wonders if she is the
woman for him. He is not sure that he
deserves a happily ever after because of what happened eight years prior.

Esther Longfellow has been in
love with Hamilton Lightfoot for many years.
She has returned from two years in London with the hopes of marrying
him. However, war is breaking out and
their families are on opposite sides.
Esther’s father, Sir Michael is a loyalist who will not allow his
daughter to marry someone unworthy of her much less a patriot. After a devastating death, Hamilton goes off
to war and sees many horrors. One night before
a big battle, he pens a love letter to Esther.
Four people, two stories, one letter.

The Love Letter is a novel about
finding someone who will love you, complement you, be there for you during the
good times and the bad times. Finding
someone to love can be easy but finding your soul mate is a different
matter. I thought the story was nicely
written and the author takes readers on a journey. The Love Letter is a dual storyline novel
that is told from four point-of-views. I
did find it jarring with the four POV’s in the beginning (trying to keep the
characters and their stories straight). It
became easier as I progressed through the book.
I found Esther and Hamilton’s storylines more compelling. The author did a wonderful job at capturing
the time-period (starts in 1781) with the descriptions of the area, the
clothing, the various Revolutionary War battles and attitudes. It was clever how the author connects the
four people together (I do not want to spoil it for you). The Christian elements are light but present
throughout. Having faith is the main
theme. You need to have faith that God has
the best plan for your life. I
appreciate that the author did not make the characters perfect. She made them realistic with their own flaws
and struggles. My rating for The Love Letter
is 4 out of 5 stars. It is a lovely
story, but I did find the pacing to be slow and the transitions were not smooth
(as we switched from character to character).
The Love Letter is a satisfying romantic Christian story with an
unpredictable, heartfelt ending.

The Love Letter is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iBooks, and Google. To celebrate her tour, Rachel is having a giveaway. The Grand Prize is Kindle Fire 7. The Semi-Grand Prize is a book basket. Second through fourth place win a copy of The Love Letter. You can enter here. Thank you for stopping by today. Please take the time to visit the other stops on The Love Letter Celebrate Lit Tour (list below). Good luck on the contest and Happy Reading!KrisThe Avid Reader

Review Policy

If you would like me to read and review your book, please contact me at Doodlesink@hotmail.com. I enjoy mysteries, paranormal, Christian fiction, and contemporary books. My reviews will be honest and are not influenced by receiving a book for free.